On this day, February 12, 1988, the final episode of Sledge Hammer aired on ABC. This cult-classic action-comedy series ran for two seasons, delivering 41 episodes of over-the-top satire, slapstick humor, and outrageous crime-fighting antics. Created by Alan Spencer, the show starred David Rasche as the titular character, a trigger-happy, no-nonsense detective with an unhealthy attachment to his .44 Magnum revolver.
Sledge Hammer! was a parody of hard-boiled cop dramas, exaggerating every cliché in the book. Despite its strong fan following, the series faced low ratings, leading ABC to cancel it after two seasons. Interestingly, the first season ended with a nuclear explosion destroying the city, as the creators assumed the show would not return. However, when ABC unexpectedly renewed it, the second season was written as a prequel to explain how everything was still intact.
Fun fact: David Rasche’s over-the-top delivery of the line "Trust me, I know what I'm doing!" became one of the most memorable catchphrases of 80s television.
Trivia question: What famous 70s crime show served as one of the main inspirations for Sledge Hammer’s parody of tough-guy detectives?
Sledge Hammer! was a parody of hard-boiled cop dramas, exaggerating every cliché in the book. Despite its strong fan following, the series faced low ratings, leading ABC to cancel it after two seasons. Interestingly, the first season ended with a nuclear explosion destroying the city, as the creators assumed the show would not return. However, when ABC unexpectedly renewed it, the second season was written as a prequel to explain how everything was still intact.
Fun fact: David Rasche’s over-the-top delivery of the line "Trust me, I know what I'm doing!" became one of the most memorable catchphrases of 80s television.
Trivia question: What famous 70s crime show served as one of the main inspirations for Sledge Hammer’s parody of tough-guy detectives?
